India Re‑asserts Its Commitment to a Free and Open Indo‑Pacific at the Quad Meet in Manila

On 22 July 2026, as the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting wrapped up in Manila, the foreign ministers of the Quad – the United States, Japan, Australia and India – slipped into a side‑session that ran a little longer than a coffee break. The tone was unmistakably upbeat, even as the backdrop of rising Chinese activity in the region loomed large.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar opened the dialogue with a familiar refrain, telling his counterparts that New Delhi remains “committed to a free and open Indo‑Pacific, with a clear recognition of ASEAN’s centrality.” It was a line that sounded rehearsed, yet it carried weight; India has been quietly expanding its maritime footprint and deepening defence ties with its Quad partners over the past few years.

Joining Jaishankar were Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and the U.S. Secretary of State – reported by several outlets as Marco Rubio. Rubio took to X later that day to note that the Quad “remains a priority” and that the ministers would reconvene later in the year to further cement cooperation.

The joint statement that emerged from the meeting was a laundry list of shared concerns and aspirations. It reaffirmed support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo‑Pacific (AOIP), underscored the need for maritime security, and highlighted cooperation on critical minerals, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. In short, the Quad signalled it was ready to work hand‑in‑hand with ASEAN rather than sideline the association.

Beyond the Quad table, Jaishankar also managed a brief but notable encounter with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit. The two officials exchanged pleasantries and agreed that stable India‑China ties were essential for a multipolar Asia – a reminder that diplomacy, however strained, still has room for a polite handshake.

Overall, the Manila gathering was the second Quad foreign‑minister summit of 2026, the first having been held in Delhi in May. While the statements were measured, the subtext was clear: the Quad is sharpening its focus on the Indo‑Pacific, anchoring its efforts around ASEAN, and signalling a united front against any unilateral attempts to dominate the region’s seas and supply chains.